Pulp storing and mixing machine



Aug. 18, 1931. c, THQRNE 1,819,531

PULP STORING AND MIXING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOQ.

Aug. 18, 1931. c. B. THORNE PULP STORING AND MIXING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g- 1931- 1 c. B. THORNE 1,819,531

PULP STORING AND MIXING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I !l I -88- 64 87 T LJ INVEN ore.

7 69. I' @1 Em g f L E L N12. r-1E. a TT Patented Aug. 18 1931 UNITED-1 STAT.

s PATENT OFFICE CARL BUSCH THORN E,'-OF HAWKESBURY, ONTARIO, CANADA PULP sronme- AND mixING MACHINE Application filedlllarch 22,

novel-features of construction pointed out from pulp as in any one'mill there cannotbroadly-and specifically inthe claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invention. 7

i The objects of the invention are to insure uniformity in the various manufactures possibly be any guarantee that the product of one digester will be the same as the product of another digester in fact there is bound to be a difference and consequently no surety'of evenness in the 'massed'product'of. a days operation; to maintain uniformity in pulp mills particularly in the production of pulp.

at high density so that the slightestdifl'eren'ce in the cooking of the pulp in one digester will be lost in the distribution of the pulp from this digester throughout the products of the other digesters; toincrease the values of silk, paper and other manufactures made from wood or other pulp material; to accomplish this method of mixingthe pulp at a low cost and thereby avoid any additional expense in the production of goods from pulp;

' and generally to provide a reliable andsimple means of evening the product of a mill.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewof the partition tank forming receptacles for the pulp resulting from the days operation. I

Figure 2 is a plan View of the tank from above.

Figure 3 is a plan view -of-the bottom of the tank. Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the distributor and the feed mechanism.

Figure" 5 is a cross sectional view. of the distributor as illustrated in Figure 4. r i Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the electrical and mechanical device for automatically operating the discharge hopper.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the self adjusting ratchet showing the teeth in elevation.

of the automatically operating electric suspensions or supports and like framing are 1929. Serial m5; 349,168.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of the ratchetteeth illustrated in Figure 7 Figure 9 is a plan view showing the detail switch. v a Figure 10 is a sectional detail of the svgitch illustratedin Figure 9.

Likenumerals of reference indicate cor.- responding parts in the various figures. Referring to the drawings, the tank is indicated by the 'numeral15 and this tank is divided into as many. compartments as may be desired, and is here shown as divided into four receptacles 16, 17, 18 and 19 by the vertical partitions 20, This tank is suitably suspended by vertical beams from a superstructurenot shown in the drawings or described in detail as many different forms of common in pulp mills to support vats or tanks slightly above the bottom 21 to form the annular opening 22 for the scraper arm 23. The bottom21 supported on the posts 24; is inclined inwardly to the annular discharge opening 25 surrounding the center piece 26 inclined to said opening 25. The bottom 21 is flanged upwardly at 27 towards the wall of the tank 15 and beyond this flange 27 is recessed to form the annular drain 28. 4

The bottom 21 is dropped slightly around the opening 25 and extended inwardly at 29 and from this extension the tip 30 projects downwardly, said extension 29 projecting inwardly under the centerpiece 26 from all sides and forming under-said center piece a central discharge opening 31' at one side of v I which the tip 30 forms a guard a ross the endless conveyer operating under the bottom and extending therebeyond to the elevator 33. The arm 23 is fixedly mounted on the pin 34 journalled in the center piece 26 and the plow shaped scrapers 35 aresecured tosaid arm and extend into the vicinity ofthe inclined bottom both on the inward and outward inclines and downwardlytherebetween. The short arm 36 is also mounted on the pin 35 below the center piece 26 at an angular position in relation to the arm 23 and carries the scrapers 37 sweeping thefloor of the extension 29. A

The arm23 is driven 'b the motor 38 mounted on the base 39 an from this base depends the bracket 40 forming a bearing of as the base 39 is rigidly secured'to the outer end of the arm 23 the said arm continuously scrapes the inclined bottom surfaces of the tank and coincidently the short arm scrapers sweep the floor of the extension under the center piece 26 all tending towards thoroughly mixing the discharges from the receptacles 16, 17, 18 and 19 as at each operation only a comparatively thin layer atthe finish of each revolution draws the scraping from each discharge together so that in the final discharge the products of the several digesters are thoroughly mixed to form a common product and this common product is delivered onto the conveyor 32 and conveyed to the elevator 33. i

The elevator 33 dumps this material into a proportioning apparatus 48 which is formed of the drum shaped casing 49 having outlets 50 and 51 through the bottom from the central portion and between the center and the edge respectively the spout 52 projecting downwardly from the outlet 50 and directing the material on to the conveyer belt 59 and the spout 53. projecting downwardly from the outlet 51 and directing the material into the rotating hopper 54 centrallyarranged over the tank 15.

The rotor 55 of the proportioning apparatus is divided into. a plurality of compartments by the radial partitions 56, these compartments being open from top and bottom and passing with the continuous rotation clockwise of the rotor 55 under the scraper 57 which deposits a proportion of the pulp in the center 58 of the casing from which it is dlscharged from the spout 53 to the storage tank, the remainder in the several pockets passing through the outlet 51 into thehopper 54 from which it is returned through the conveyer 59 to one or other of the receptacles 16, 17, 18 or 19.

The conveyer 60 is also directed to the hopper 54 and is the original feeder to the tank 15.

The hopper 54 fixedly mounted on the vertlcal shaft 61 extending upwardly from the center of the vertical partitions 20.

The coacting gear mechanism 62 between the-shafts 61 and 63 forms the means of operatingthe hopper 54 so that it would be dithe teeth 68 which are at intervals inter- I rupted by the spaces 69.

These spaces are periodically closed by the pivotally mounted teeth 70; each tooth 7O is'mounted on a pivot 71 and is formed with an extending tail 72 and a forwardly extending lug 73 fitting into anotch 74 ending the neighbouring tooth. The tail 72 is engaged by a roller 75 at the lower end of the pin 76, this pin 76 being pivotally secured to a rocker arm 77 in turn pivotally secured to the core 78 of the solenoid 79, therefore when the solenoid is energized the core is inwardly drawn and thus through the rocker arm and pivoted pin exerts pressure on the tail of the tooth and swings said tooth into line so that it is disengaged by the pawl and thereby bridges the distance to the next tooth and then continues the operation.

to different levels, one quite full, the next one three quarters full, the next one half full, the fourth one one quarter full, consequently some means is necessary to regulate the operation of the intermittent sprocket.

In each receptacle at the upper end a gravity electrical switch arm 80 leans outwardly and is operated to close an electrical switch 81 and as this switch arm is hinged at 82 to the tank wall, the weight of the pulp as it reaches and'covers the arm will readily close the switch which is preferably of the mercury type.

The electric distributor 83 is operated by the coacting gear mechanism 84 operatively connecting the vertical shaft 61, and the distributor shaft 85, insuring the rotation of the latter at the same speed as the hopper 54.

There are four rings on the distributor shafts corresponding to the four receptacles and on each ring there is a brass contact 86, each ring being set at ninety-degrees from the preceding ring so that only one contact can be made at a time. These contact rings are severally connected to the mercury switches and there is a common connection to the solenoid and a connection from the source ofpower to the solenoid and to the .noid and the operation of a pivoted tooth as explained and it may be said that the tail 72 of each tooth operates between the stops 87 and 88 from the ratchet wheel.

In the operation of this invention, the

general feed conveyer brings the pulp from named, the operation then is practically continous for the amount of material is regulated, a certain quantity is constantly swept to the general discharge through the bottom and conveyed to the elevator, Where it is ele-: vated to the proportioning apparatus and partly returned to the tank and partly discharged finally and by this means there is positive assurance of the thorough mixing of the products from the the mill.

VVhat I claim is 1. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a

plurality of receptacles, means for gathering several digesters of the products from said receptacles and means for proportioning the combined discharges .for return to the receptacles andfor final .discharge.

2. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurallty of grouped receptacles havlng gravity discharges, means for gathering these discharges to a common discharge, means fol elevating the common discharge, means for proportioning the common discharge, means for distributing a'portion throughout said grouped receptacles, and means for effecting the final discharge of the remaining portion.

3.-In a storing and mixing apparatus,'a plurality of grouped receptacles having a common bottom and a communicating dis-- charge opening directed'to a common discharge opening, means for elevating the common discharge and means for redistributinga portion of t-he'elevated product throughoutthe receptacles and forwarding the remainder to the final discharge.

4. In 'a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having a common bottom and an opening in said bottom leading from the several receptacles and to a central opening under the central part of said bottom, a conveyer under said central opening, means for gathering the prod-. ucts to said central opening means for elevating the combined products, and means for redistributing a portion of the combined products throughout the receptacles and for warding the remainder to the final discharge.

5. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a-

tank forming-a'plurality of grouped receptacles suspended above a common bottom 7 and forming an annular opening therebetween and having in said bottom a discharge opening common to saidreceptacles and a central discharge opening connect-edto the aforesaid discharge opening, means extending through said annular opening for gathering theproducts from the several receptacles to said central opening, a conveyor under said central opening, an elevating conveyor connected to said conveyer and a proportjo'ning apparatus distributing part of the combined products to said re-eptacles and part to the final discharge.

6. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a

tank forming a pluralityof grouped receptacles and suspended over a common'bottom to form between said bottom and the tank Wall an annular opening immediately above an annular drain in said bottom, said bot tom having a discharge opening common to said receptacle and a central discharge opening common to the aforesaid discharge thereto sweeping the bottom ot said tank and extending through said annular opening beyond said tank, means for rotating said scraper arm, means for elevating the product ings, a central rotatable pin mounted in said bottom, a long arm having scrapers and extending through said annular opening and fixedly mounted on said pin, a short, arm fixedly mounted on said pin and having scrapers operating on lower level-than the [aforesaid scrapers. a carriage rigidly secured to the outer end o f'said long arm and travelling on a rail, a chain and sprocket mechanism and driving member on said base and encircling said-tank, means for elevating the openings, an arm having S I3.])Q!S attached product and distributing means at the upper end, means for elevating the product-from said central opening and a proportioning apparatus for distributing part of the combined products to said receptacles and part to the final discharge.

8. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having individual discharges and a discharge common to said individual discharges, means for con veying and elevating the combinedproducts and means for proportioning the combined products including devices for distributing the product throughout the receptacles and separating a portion for final discharge.

9.. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having individual discharges and a discharge common to said individual discharges, means for conveying and elevating the combined products andme ans for proportioning the combined products, including. a cylindrical casing having'a final discharge outlet and a redistribution outlet and a compartment. rotor and scraper feeding said outlets.

10. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having individualdischarges and a discharge common to the severalreceptacles.

11. In a SlZOIlIlgflDd mlxmg apparatus, a

plurality of grouped receptacles having individual discharges and a-discharge common to said individual discharges, means for conveying and elevating the combined products and means for proportionin'g the combined products, including a rotor partitioned to form a plurality otradial passages therearound and suitably driven and rotating in a casing havingan outlet open and chute under thepath of saidpassages and a=central outlet chamber over a chute effecting a final discharge. Y

12. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having individual discharges and a discharge common to said individual discharges, means for conveying and elevating the combined products and means for proportioning the combined products, including a continuously rotating "member having passages formed by radial partitions and bounding a central chamber I and turning in a drum casing having outlets from said passages and chamber and supporting a scraper skimming said passages of product delivered to said chamber and a rotating hopper having a chute consecutively directed to said receptacles,

13. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a

to said individual discharges, means for conveying and elevating the combined products,

a rotatable hopper having a, chute directed to said receptacles by selection, means for rotating said hopper and means for delivering the products to said hopper.

14..In a storing and mixing apparatus, a plurality of grouped receptacles having-individual discharges and a discharge common to said individual dischargg, means for conveying and elevating the combined products, a rotatable hopper fixedly mounted on a vertical shaft centrally mounted in relation to said receptacles, a ratchet. driving mechanism operatively connected with said shaft and having an intermittent sprocket electrically controlled and automatically turning said hopper to direct the products respectively to the receptacles and means for delivering the products to saidhopper.

15. In a storing and mixing apparatus, a,

plurality of grouped receptacles having individual discharges and a discharge common to said individual discharges, means for con-' veying and elevating the combined products, a vertical shaft operatively connected to a ratchet driving mechanism containing an intermittent ratchet wheel having pivotally mounted teeth at intervals 'in the fixed teeth and a reciprocating pawl, a solenoid having its core operatively connected with each pivoted tooth in turn, a gravity cut out in each receptacle in the electrical connections, to said solenoid operated by the rise and fall of vthe product in the receptacle, a hopper having a chute directed to the selected receptacle and fixedly mounted on said vertical shaft and means for delivering product to product and finally discharging said portion.

17. Astoring and mixing apparatus, comprising tanks having a common discharge for differently classifiable products and means for mixing'the Withdrawal of the finished mixture. I 1

18. In devices ofthe kind'described, means for storing manufactured products from various sources of production, means for withdrawing them to a common collection, means for remixing and means for continuously vWithdrawing a portion for .-the manufactures; A I

1 Signed atMontreal, Canada, this 29th day of January, 1929. I y

7 CARL BUSCH THORNE. 

